Friday, July 13, 2012

Former Olympic bronze medalist Ronda Rousey (white) will defend her Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Championship against Sarah Kaufman on August 18 in San Diego.(Photo: REUTERS/Kim Kyung Hoon)

A little more than a month before she defends her Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Championship for the first time, Ronda Rousey made news when ESPN: The Magazine released its annual "Body Issue." The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in judo posed for the magazine's famous artistic nude photos - joining the likes of New York Rangers center Brad Richards, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista - and was one of six athletes picked for one of the special covers.

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While it's easy for a women's MMA detractor to knock the idea of Rousey being photographed nude - however artfully - the fact remains that it's a victory for Rousey and the sport to be featured in elite company that includes some of the greatest athletes in the world.

It's also a victory that was assisted by the UFC.

One of the nagging questions for the world's top mixed martial arts promotion is that of when the UFC will add women's divisions, with UFC president Dana White repeatedly answering that it won't happen until there are enough elite female fighters to sustain a full division, as opposed to an elite group that includes Rousey, former champion Miesha Tate, Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg, among others. While that may be the party line, the 2011 purchase of Strikeforce by UFC parent company Zuffa has certainly added to the existing opportunities for female fighters. The inclusion of Rousey in this year's Body Issue - which last year featured UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.

Of course, another major factor is that Rousey - who will defend her title on August 18 in San Diego against former champion Sarah Kaufman - is an attractive woman as well as a dominant athlete. That can't be denied, and it's a point that's been made throughout her meteoric rise to the top of women's MMA (her championship victory over Miesha Tate in March came less than two years after her first amateur fight, and less than a year after her first professional bout). However, the association of Strikeforce with the UFC has opened the door to a number of additional promotional opportunities, including appearances at UFC events, interviews on UFC programming, and the promotion of her fights through the UFC. Rousey's inclusion in the Body Issue is another step in the building of women's MMA, powered by the UFC.

The UFC may not be ready to institute women's divisions, and as long as Strikeforce continues to operate, White and company may be happy to keep Rousey and her fellow female fighters there. In the meantime, though, the promotion is helping to build the women's division and making it more likely that we will one day see fighters like Rousey fighting in the Octagon.